Lifesong Live (CD - 2006)

CCM group Casting Crowns had a major hit in August of 2005 with their second album, the complex and rocking LIFESONG. They went on to win a Grammy Award, and to embark on a gigantic U.S. tour that brought their music and ministry to almost a half million concert-goers. LIFESONG LIVE captures the band's show, which in its fiery intensity and emotional exuberance recalls U2 at their finest.

Casting Crowns followed up their 2005 breakthrough sophomore effort Lifesong with this live CD/DVD set Lifesong Live. The CD is short in length -- just seven songs -- yet rich with the septet's pop worship sound. The live element adds enough of a new dimension to distinguish this set from its studio predecessor. By stepping up the tempo on numbers like the hit title track and concert closer "Father, Spirit, Jesus," vocalist Mark Hall breathes a bit of new life into the set list. Most tracks still lean towards humble, praise-oriented themes. The DVD is no more glamorous or pretentious than the audio disc, making the pair a solid introductory point to the band's unassuming personality. Bonus features include a "behind the scenes" featurette, a gospel message from Tony Nolan, tour notes, and the music video for "Does Anybody Hear Her." Followers of the band will enjoy the concert ambiance and inter-song dialogue, though casual listeners may prefer the more refined production work on Lifesong's original studio recordings. ~ Jared Johnson minimize